Utrecht vs Lyon prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-09-24 19:00.
[p]Lyon, who reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) last season, travel to Utrecht on matchday one of the 2025/26 competition.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Utrecht’s fourth-placed finish last season in the Eredivisie was their highest in eight years, earning them a place in the UEL qualifiers, which they breezed through. The Dutch outfit will now play in the main draw for the first time since 2010/11, but have not won any of their last 11 games in major European competitions (D5, L6), so history suggests they are in for an uphill battle. Ron Jans’ side tasted victory in eight of their first ten encounters across all competitions this term (D1, L1), but begin this UEL campaign after successive 1-0 defeats, and could lose three consecutive matches for the first time since October 2023.[/p]
[p]Following Lyon’s dramatic extra-time exit from the UEL at the hands of Manchester United in April, they ended last season poorly, scraping a sixth-placed finish in Ligue 1 on goal difference. Paulo Fonseca has watched his side’s strong start to the new campaign, with four wins in five (L1), from afar as his ban for a confrontation with a referee back in March remains in place until the end of November. That suspension does not apply in European competitions though, so he will be on the touchline here as Les Gones look to further improve on a run of just two defeats in their last 32 UEL group/league-phase games (W20, D10).[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]This is the pair’s first-ever meeting. Lyon have won seven of their 14 H2Hs with Dutch sides in major European competitions (D3, L4), while Utrecht have never beaten a French team (D1, L1).[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Five of Utrecht’s last six defeats have been by a one-goal margin.[/p]
[p]None of Utrecht’s last four games have seen both teams score.[/p]
[p]Lyon’s last five wins have all been accompanied by a clean sheet.[/p]
[p]Lyon have scored first in all five of their games so far this term.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Souffian El Karouani recorded five goal involvements in Utrecht’s six UEL qualifiers this term (G1, A4), with all but one arriving in the second half. Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ two assists for Lyon this season have both come in the first period, but just seven of the 22 in his career to date have come before half-time.[/p]
[p]Emirhan Demircan is an injury doubt for the hosts, while Lyon are still expected to be without first-choice goalkeeper RĂ©my Descamps.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]The visitors here have enjoyed a stellar start to the season and face an Utrecht side slightly low on confidence, so we recommend backing Lyon to win and score 3+ goals.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Ben Olawumi[/i][/p]